Improved knife and scissors sharpener



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. ALCORN, OF NEW YORK, Y.

" IMPROVED KNIFE AND SCISSORS SHARPENER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. L13,752, dated August 9, 1864.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it. known that I, WILLIAM H. ALcoRN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a neW and Improved Device for Sharpening Knives and Scissors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional side eleva tion of this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same, showing its application to a knife. Fig. 3 is a. transverse section ot' the same, showing its application to a pair of scissors.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention consist-s in the employment of a three or more sided tile attached to a horizontally-swinging lever by means of sleeves, so that it can be readily removed and turned to bring a fresh side into use, in combination with a suitable socket to hold a knife or a pair of scissors in such a manner that When an ocillating lnotion is imparted to the lever, and the knife or scissors are placed into their respective sockets, the tile will act on the cuttingedge and sharpen the same in a simple and easy manner.

A represents a platform, made of wood or any other suitable material, and in any suitable shape or form. The surface of this plat form is perfectly flat, and provided at one end with a projection, a, to support the end of the lever B. 'lhis lever is attached to the projection a by means of a pivot, b, so that it. swings freely in a horizontal plane. The under side ot' this lever is provided with a socket, c, to receive the iile U, which may be three-sided, square, or made in any other convenient form or shape. two sleeves, D, one or both of which are made movable on the lever, so that the iile can be readily taken out and turned when it Vis desired to bring a fresh side into action, or that This le is retained in its place by it can be removed and replaced by a new one if all-sides have been used up or rendered dull.

The knife to be sharpened. is held in the proper position by two strips, 0l, of sheet metal or other suitable'material, which are fastened down upon the platform A in the position as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. When the knife is placed between thesestrips, it assumes an inclined position, as clearly shown in Fig. l of thcdrawings, and the cuttingedge is exposed t0 the action of the le in the hand-lever. A few strokes ofthe handlever will produce a face on one side of the cuttingedge, and by reversing the knife its opposite side faces the le, and the cuttingedge is rendered sharp in a few seconds.

In order to use my device for scissors, I place tirst one jaw and then the other into the notch c in the edge ofthe platform A, and by holding the back of the jaw down upon the platform, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cutting-edge is exposed to the action of the le, and by a few strokes of the hand lever said cutting-edge is rendered sharp.

A plate, j', of tempered steel or other suitable material, serves to impart to the cuttingedge the final nish.

By the use of this device table-knives, scissors, and, in fact, cutting-instruments of any shape and construction, can be readily sharpened at little expense of time and without 'in uch skill or exertion.l

lt is obvious that in place ot' the tile C a simple steel or blank tile may be used if it is desired.

l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 'lhe use of a file, O, secured by sleeves D, or their equivalents, to a horizontally-swinging lever, B, in combination with guide-strips d or notch e, to retain the knife or scissors to be sharpened, substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.

/VILLIAM H. ALCORN.

Witnesses:

WM. F. MCNAMARA, J. P. HALL. 

